Exploring the environmental and economic potential for biogas production from swine manure wastewater by life cycle assessment

Meng-Fen Shih,Chiu-Yue Lin,Chyi-How Lay,Shen-Ho Chang

doi:10.1007/s10098-021-02157-1

Meng-Fen Shih, Chiu-Yue Lin + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-021-02157-1

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Abstract

The development of biofuels to replace fossil fuels with bioenergy systems has attracted attention as an environmental-friendly process. Dealing with biowaste by anaerobic digestion disposes of wastes and produces biogas during the treatment processes for providing the renewable energy source at a low cost while conserving fossil fuel. This study uses life cycle assessment and cost-benefit analysis to evaluate and compare environmental impacts and cost benefits before and after installing a rapid-build anaerobic fermentor module into the three-stage wastewater treatment system that the swine farm initially used. The module helps biogas production as energy recovery in swine farms. The results indicate that the module could help reduce carbon footprint by 22.6%, methane by 51.8%, sulfur oxides by 92.6%, nitrogen oxides by 74.2%, carbon monoxide by 54.7%, nitrous oxide by 28.6%, suspended particulate by 95.4%, and non-methane volatile organic compounds by 80%. Using this module made the reductions of damage impacts were human health 82%, ecosystem quality 59%, and resource scarcity 87%. The daily average biogas production was 46.38 m3, and its annual electricity generation income was 6091 USD. This study allows identifying the lowest environmental impact to support the adoption of sustainable waste treatment and the opportunity for converting waste to be energy and utilization with economic benefits for small-scale swine farms.Graphic abstract

Highlights

A livestock industry has huge and complex processes including the feeding of raw materials, product transportation, slaughtering and meat production, waste generation during breeding, and waste treatment
This study aims to use life cycle assessment and costbenefit analysis tools in evaluating and comparing the potential environmental impacts and cost benefits for the swine farm operation with and without a rapid-build anaerobic fermentor module installed into the original three-stage wastewater treatment system, which module helps biogas production as energy recovery in swine farms
The results indicate that the module could help reduce carbon footprint by 22.6%, methane by 51.8%, sulfur oxides by 92.6%, nitrogen oxides by 74.2%, carbon monoxide by 54.7%, nitrous oxide by 28.6%, suspended particulate by 95.4%, and non-methane volatile organic compounds by 80%

Summary

Introduction

A livestock industry has huge and complex processes including the feeding of raw materials, product transportation, slaughtering and meat production, waste generation during breeding, and waste treatment. The swine husbandry output value accounts for half of the whole livestock production value in Taiwan has regarded as the most important agricultural economic project. Considering both economic development and environmental maintenance, the treatment of swine manure becomes even more important. The bulk of emissions relates to the feed supply and manure storage in processing, followed by energy consumption (FAO 2020). In view of the change in livestock industry worldwide toward more concentrated animal feeding operations, environmentally-sound methods for the storage and disposal of manure are required (Cantrell et al 2008). The approach of producing bioenergy by biowaste that dealing with the waste problem, bringing the benefits by producing energy at the same time

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